Dalai Lama worship allowed in China?

[Big Uncle]

Now, this is an interesting development. This is the first time the Chinese have relaxed on their stance against the Dalai Lama. Perhaps, it is the effect of the self-immolations but I doubt it because self-immolations was to champion independence. The Chinese would never change their stance on that one as it compromises the unity of the nation. So what could it be? Perhaps, the Dalai Lama is aging and the Chinese state no longer sees him as a threat anymore. But why the sudden turnaround? I deduce that perhaps, the Dalai Lama has been in negotiations with the Chinese government over something and the Dalai Lama is fulfilling his end and the Chinese are merely reciprocating. What do you guys think?

Dalai Lama: No More ‘Wolf in Monk’s Robes’? (http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/rendezvous/2013/06/27/dalai-lama-no-more-wolf-in-monks-robes/)

The Dalai Lama exchanges a traditional 'namaste' greeting with an Australian Aboriginal man at a media conference in Sydney.
DAVID GRAY / REUTERS
By DIDI KIRSTEN TATLOW
June 27, 2013

BEIJING — 4:45 p.m. | Updated Is a little bit of fresh air blowing in Tibet after more than two decades of rigid policies by Beijing, and recently, around 120 self-immolations by Tibetans protesting those policies?
Maybe. (An ongoing, rare visit to Tibet by the United States ambassador to China, Gary Locke, is also piquing interest.)

Here are some startling comments about a possible loosening of policy, from Tsering Namgyal, a writer and journalist based in New York, writing in Asia Sentinel earlier this week (Mr. Namgyal was citing the Tibetan language website Khabda.org.)

“In an abrupt and unexpected reversal of policy, Chinese government officials have told monks in some Tibetan areas that they are now free to ‘worship’ the Dalai Lama as a ‘religious leader,’” Mr. Namgyal wrote.


Xi Zhongxun (left), China's former prime minister and the father of the president, Xi Jinping, talking with Gyalo Thondup, the brother of the Dalai Lama, in Beijing in 1987.
CHINA / REUTERS

The policy is being described as an “experiment,” Mr. Namgyal wrote. Some monks have been told they can stop criticizing the Dalai Lama, as they have often been required to in the past, and can stop describing him as “a wolf in a monk’s robe,” said Mr. Namgyal, referring to an announcement apparently made at a meeting on June 14 in a Buddhist school in Qinghai province, at the appointment of a new Communist Party secretary. The meeting was attended by high-ranking ethnic Tibetan and Chinese officials, said Mr. Namgyal.

The goal? To separate the Dalai Lama’s religious and political roles.

“‘As a religious person, from now on you should respect and follow His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama,” the new policy document cited by Mr. Namgyal ran, “but in terms of politics you are not allowed to do so. Politics and religion should go separate ways.”

Today, too, the United States ambassador Gary Locke is in Tibet, on a trip that began on June 25 and ends tomorrow, and was approved by the Chinese authorities, his first since becoming ambassador in 2011 and the first visit by a U.S. ambassador since 2010, said an embassy spokesman, Nolan Barkhouse.

Mr. Locke is visiting the Tibetan Autonomous Region “with members of his family and several officials from the embassy and consulate general in Chengdu,” said Mr. Barkhouse. “The purpose of this visit is to increase familiarity with local conditions in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and meet with officials and residents there,” he said.

Foreign reporters have long been barred from visiting Tibet except for infrequent, carefully-managed tours organized by officials, and Chinese reporters also face restrictions; diplomats have problems gaining access and even regular tourists, from time to time. Mr. Locke addressed that: he “discussed the importance opening up access to Tibet for U.S. diplomats and diplomats from other countries, for foreign journalists and foreign tourists,” said Mr. Barkhouse. “He also emphasized the importance of preserving the Tibetan people’s cultural heritage, including its unique linguistic, religion and cultural traditions.”

Next Saturday, July 6, is the Dalai Lama’s 78th birthday. For decades, hardline policy makers in Beijing are said to have believed that the eventual death of the Dalai Lama, (the spiritual leader of Tibetans has lived in exile since March 1959; here it says there were fears he would be assassinated,) would help solve its problems in Tibet.

There has been speculation whether the new president, Xi Jinping, whose influential family has ties to Tibet and whose father is pictured below meeting with the Dalai Lama’s brother, 26 years ago, would be able to craft a new policy.

Mr. Xi’s predecessor, Hu Jintao, a party leader of Tibet before becoming president, was seen as a conservative on the Tibet issue.

Earlier this month, a voice from within the party establishment spoke about Tibet in an interview with the Hong Kong-based news magazine Yazhou Zhoukan. Jin Wei, a researcher at the Central Party School in Beijing, appeared to urge a more flexible policy.

As the power-holder in the region, the Communist Party – which is officially atheist and has long believed economic development would undermine opposition in Tibet – must accept the central importance of non-material values to Tibetans, she was quoted as saying in the interview on this blog, in Chinese.

“If there can be new thinking and a breakthrough of the deadlock, not only would it further social stability and avoid the creation of hard-to-heal ethnic wounds, it would have a positive influence on other ethnic minorities in the country,” Ms. Jin said. And help improve China’s international image, she added.

Tibet isn’t the only part of this vast country where Beijing is having real trouble. Yesterday, 27 people were killed in Xinjiang, the far-western, mostly Muslim region, in a dawn “riot” that official media attributed to “knife-wielding mobs” but Chinese analysts cited by the Global Times, a newspaper that is part of the People’s Daily Group, attributed to “terrorists”.

Meanwhile, in a new report, Human Rights Watch says millions of Tibetans have been rehoused and relocated since 2006 as part the “Build a New Socialist Countryside” and “New Socialist Villages” campaigns. This link provides aerial images of what the group says is the Tibetan countryside before and after, showing changes.

The 115-page report, “’They Say We Should Be Grateful’: Mass Rehousing and Relocation in Tibetan Areas of China,” documents extensive rights violations, the group said.

[Ensapa]

Or perhaps, it could be that the Dalai Lama has declared that he does not want independence but middle way and anyone who says other than that is lying, that caused China to trust him again? It has been a long time since the Dalai Lama said he wanted the middle way approach, but CTA and TYC went against this and went down the rangzen road instead, which angered China even more and made them way more paranoid. When CTA gives up rangzen in favor of the middle way and in favor of the Dalai Lama, this is what happens: China no longer sees the Dalai Lama as a threat.

[vajratruth]

Now, this is an interesting development. This is the first time the Chinese have relaxed on their stance against the Dalai Lama. Perhaps, it is the effect of the self-immolations but I doubt it because self-immolations was to champion independence. The Chinese would never change their stance on that one as it compromises the unity of the nation. So what could it be? Perhaps, the Dalai Lama is aging and the Chinese state no longer sees him as a threat anymore. But why the sudden turnaround? I deduce that perhaps, the Dalai Lama has been in negotiations with the Chinese government over something and the Dalai Lama is fulfilling his end and the Chinese are merely reciprocating. What do you guys think?

Well, it seems China is outrightly denying this. [See http://www.thetibetpost.com/en/news/tibet/3495-china-denies-easing-ban-on-his-holiness-portraits-in-tibet. And as for the effect of the self immolations, not only has it not moved the Chinese government to soften their stance, it has not even moved the CTA to push harder for democracy. Recently Sikyong Lobsang Sangay literally gave away both Tibetan independence and the essential elements of the Middle Way which is self [democratic] rule by agreeing to a communist-styled government for Tibet. Dr Sangay made several statements during his interview with Prof. Cohen at the Council On Foreign Relations. Here is an excerpt:

COHEN: Do you think you can institute democracy in a genuinely autonomous Tibet? Will there be real, free political elections, freedom of expression? It would be unique to the People's Republic, wouldn't it?

SANGAY: That -- democracy is what we practice in exile. We are not asking that democracy be implemented or be allowed inside Tibet. What we're asking is rights, as per the provisions of the Chinese constitution. So democracy is what we practice, but this is what we aspire. But that's not part of what we're asking to the Chinese government. [See: http://www.cfr.org/tibet/conversation-sikyong-lobsang-sangay/p30679

To make it clear, the Sikyong confirmed that the CTA is not asking for democracy but "...rights as per the the Chinese Consitution" which means that the communist constitution is acceptable to him instead of the democratic constitution that the CTA claims to be exercising presently. For sure this is not a move towards independence or indeed genuine autonomy but instead this is the CTA agreeing to abide by the Chinese Communist Constitution which makes the Tibet Dr Sangay is seeking, a communist Tibet. Certainly this is not what over 100 self immolators died for and that is why for certain, the sacrifice of the Tibetans had no impact on the CTA. It is noteworthy that to true to the CTA's habitual misleading of its own people, this news was swept under the carpet and instead the CTA's website reported something much more benign. [See: http://tibet.net/2013/05/14/a-conversation-with-sikyong-lobsang-sangay-council-on-foreign-relations/

As it turns out the Chinese have denied any relaxation over their view of the Dalai Lama. However, IF there is even some remote truth that the Chinese are considering allowing the worship of the Dalai Lama, it could be because the Tibetan Cause has been sold out. And if that is the case, why continue to claim that the worship of Dorje Shugden harms the Tibetan cause and the harm in fact is from the CTA itself. Et tu Sangay?

[Ensapa]

Well, it seems China is outrightly denying this. [See http://www.thetibetpost.com/en/news/tibet/3495-china-denies-easing-ban-on-his-holiness-portraits-in-tibet. And as for the effect of the self immolations, not only has it not moved the Chinese government to soften their stance, it has not even moved the CTA to push harder for democracy. Recently Sikyong Lobsang Sangay literally gave away both Tibetan independence and the essential elements of the Middle Way which is self [democratic] rule by agreeing to a communist-styled government for Tibet. Dr Sangay made several statements during his interview with Prof. Cohen at the Council On Foreign Relations. Here is an excerpt:

COHEN: Do you think you can institute democracy in a genuinely autonomous Tibet? Will there be real, free political elections, freedom of expression? It would be unique to the People's Republic, wouldn't it?

SANGAY: That -- democracy is what we practice in exile. We are not asking that democracy be implemented or be allowed inside Tibet. What we're asking is rights, as per the provisions of the Chinese constitution. So democracy is what we practice, but this is what we aspire. But that's not part of what we're asking to the Chinese government. [See: http://www.cfr.org/tibet/conversation-sikyong-lobsang-sangay/p30679

To make it clear, the Sikyong confirmed that the CTA is not asking for democracy but "...rights as per the the Chinese Consitution" which means that the communist constitution is acceptable to him instead of the democratic constitution that the CTA claims to be exercising presently. For sure this is not a move towards independence or indeed genuine autonomy but instead this is the CTA agreeing to abide by the Chinese Communist Constitution which makes the Tibet Dr Sangay is seeking, a communist Tibet. Certainly this is not what over 100 self immolators died for and that is why for certain, the sacrifice of the Tibetans had no impact on the CTA. It is noteworthy that to true to the CTA's habitual misleading of its own people, this news was swept under the carpet and instead the CTA's website reported something much more benign. [See: http://tibet.net/2013/05/14/a-conversation-with-sikyong-lobsang-sangay-council-on-foreign-relations/

As it turns out the Chinese have denied any relaxation over their view of the Dalai Lama. However, IF there is even some remote truth that the Chinese are considering allowing the worship of the Dalai Lama, it could be because the Tibetan Cause has been sold out. And if that is the case, why continue to claim that the worship of Dorje Shugden harms the Tibetan cause and the harm in fact is from the CTA itself. Et tu Sangay?

To me it is pretty obvious that Sanggay is in desperate need to appease the Chinese, but of course he does it in the wrong way as we have seen. I am sure what he wanted to say and mean was that CTA respects China's communist policies, but the poor choice of words made him sound more like he wants a communist Tibet. It shows that he lacks foresight, research and intelligence with regards to this. I am sure that he will think of more interesting ways to appeal to China instead of making callous statements like this. The key is of course sincerity and cooperation from the rest of Dharamsala in this. And they can be unified through lifting the Dorje Shugden ban.

[Blueupali]

quoting Vajratruth:
  "As it turns out the Chinese have denied any relaxation over their view of the Dalai Lama. However, IF there is even some remote truth that the Chinese are considering allowing the worship of the Dalai Lama, it could be because the Tibetan Cause has been sold out. And if that is the case, why continue to claim that the worship of Dorje Shugden harms the Tibetan cause and the harm in fact is from the CTA itself. Et tu Sangay?"

 Well, if the Chinese are allowing worship of the Dalai Lama, but not officially, it could be because he helped them out so much, years back, with his insistence that the Chinese candidate was the Karmapa.  The idea, of course, being that the Chinese Karmapa, who has stated that he would follow the Chinese government, could be replaced as the religious leader?  Since he'd be doing what China wants, and since the Dalai Lama is so old, and therefore less of a threat, then that could be used as a way of placating the Tibetans.  I mean, once the Dalai Lama is passed on, then why would the Chinese worry as much if people want him on their shrines?  After all, the Chinese Karmapa will be the new spiritual leader--- whatever they do with the government if he tells everyone to do what China says, then they will listen to him, may be the idea, since the Dalai Lama, against all historical precedent, recognized him, and China considers him "a living Buddha."  Then he can help recognize the next Dalai Lama?  Or the the next "Karmapa?" 
http://www.karmapa-issue.org/history/overview.htm
Look at the year 1995 for Urgen Trinley's indoctrination as a communist.

 

[vajratruth]

 Well, if the Chinese are allowing worship of the Dalai Lama, but not officially, it could be because he helped them out so much, years back, with his insistence that the Chinese candidate was the Karmapa. 

Blueupali,

You have raised an issue which in itself give rise to more questions than it answers. Indeed the Dalai Lama and the CTA backed a Chinese-endorsed Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley who was mentored by Tai Situ Rinpoche, a well-known associate of the Chinese government [http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/news/hidden-dragon-behind-the-cta/ ] While Orgyen Trinley denies that he is a Chinese agent, it is worthwhile to note that his mentor the Tai Situpa is still very closely knitted to the Chinese government. But that is besides the point. The point is why did the CTA accuse Shugden practitioners as being Chinese spies without any basis and at the same time openly support a Karmapa candidate that Indian intelligence formally investigated as one? This is clearly double standards and again shows clearly how the CTA is completely void of all principles.

The CTA has also proclaimed that the practice of Dorje Shugden is damaging to the Tibetan Cause. The Tbetan Cause entails the people returning to their homeland and living as free people under a democracy but as I said in my earlier statement, it is Lobsang Sangay presumably with the blessing of the CTA who has given up democracy and hence the spirit of the Tibetan Cause. That is unless the Tibetan Cause has always been for the people to live under communist rule, in which case they should all cross the border and take up communist party memberships. Clearly, it is a lie that Shugden practice harms the cause because ultimately we see that it is the CTA's decision to give up the cause and in that way, damaged it irreparably. The Dorje Shugden ban is based on nothing but lies and perhaps the Tibetan people will begin to realize that.

[Blueupali]

Hello,
 to quote Vajratruth:

the CTA has also proclaimed that the practice of Dorje Shugden is damaging to the Tibetan Cause. The Tbetan Cause entails the people returning to their homeland and living as free people under a democracy but as I said in my earlier statement, it is Lobsang Sangay presumably with the blessing of the CTA who has given up democracy and hence the spirit of the Tibetan Cause. That is unless the Tibetan Cause has always been for the people to live under communist rule, in which case they should all cross the border and take up communist party memberships. Clearly, it is a lie that Shugden practice harms the cause because ultimately we see that it is the CTA's decision to give up the cause and in that way, damaged it irreparably. The Dorje Shugden ban is based on nothing but lies and perhaps the Tibetan people will begin to realize that.
 -------------------------------------------------------
 So, I have always noticed, since 2000/2001, when Orgyen Thrinley, was backed by both China and the Dalai Lama,
'escaped' from Tibet, that the Dalai Lama seemed to be planning to accept Chinese rule in Tibet, with some sort of puppet Tibetan government.  I am not sure what exactly happened to democracy and free rule along the way, but it seemed like the Dalai Lama was saying with his mouth that he wants freedom, but backing the Chinese Karmapa, he seemed to indicate that he might be thinking of going back, and making China happy with their Karmapa as ruler of the puppet government of Tibet.  The division of the Kagyus, the division of the Gelugpas with the Shugden ban seem designed to help divide people so that they will not notice that the government of Tibet is heading back to communist rule without the free Tibet that the Dalai Lama claimed he wanted.  Everyone turned to look at what each other is doing rather than noticing what the Dalai Lama was doing.  The Dalai Lama has also used his political sway as the Nobel Peace winner to exploit the ignorance of the Western Press, who often know nothing about Buddhism and have mistaken him for a Pope before the rise of Protastantism, rather than noticing that he was this fuedal dictator, who claimed to be in charge of an entire religion but wasn't.  So, dividing two of the biggest lineages has kept people confused about what is going on, the press, has unwittingly helped, as has the government of the U.S., thinking it would somehow keep communism out of the Tibet; unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the Tibetian people lost out; as I have said in other posts, if people are still in Tibet and don't want to leave, that is okay, but I would not return there under communist rule after having left to escape it. 

[Big Uncle]

Well, I don't think on this thread we can jump the gun and be so quick to associate this piece of news with the Dorje Shugden ban and the struggle for self-autonomy. I don't think the implications will reach so far. I am thinking that the Dalai Lama has had some recent negotiations and I think on the Chinese side is 'experimenting' with the fulfillment of a bargain. It is because the Chinese is considering fulfilling it, they are even willing to experiment on allow the worship of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. I think the Chinese government has not come to a conclusion about it and so this piece of news is denied.

Another factor is that the Chinese government may be worried that the Tibetans would misinterpret this by thinking that the Chinese are actually acquiescing to Tibetan demands. However, this could not be further from the truth. What the Chinese want would be to neutralize the Dalai Lama. I think he is the main threat that the Chinese are concerned with. Once the Dalai Lama's gone, all tibetan hopes of self-autonomy would evaporate. That's how I see it and I think little can be done for Tibet.

[Ensapa]

Hello,
 to quote Vajratruth:

the CTA has also proclaimed that the practice of Dorje Shugden is damaging to the Tibetan Cause. The Tbetan Cause entails the people returning to their homeland and living as free people under a democracy but as I said in my earlier statement, it is Lobsang Sangay presumably with the blessing of the CTA who has given up democracy and hence the spirit of the Tibetan Cause. That is unless the Tibetan Cause has always been for the people to live under communist rule, in which case they should all cross the border and take up communist party memberships. Clearly, it is a lie that Shugden practice harms the cause because ultimately we see that it is the CTA's decision to give up the cause and in that way, damaged it irreparably. The Dorje Shugden ban is based on nothing but lies and perhaps the Tibetan people will begin to realize that.
 -------------------------------------------------------
 So, I have always noticed, since 2000/2001, when Orgyen Thrinley, was backed by both China and the Dalai Lama,
'escaped' from Tibet, that the Dalai Lama seemed to be planning to accept Chinese rule in Tibet, with some sort of puppet Tibetan government.  I am not sure what exactly happened to democracy and free rule along the way, but it seemed like the Dalai Lama was saying with his mouth that he wants freedom, but backing the Chinese Karmapa, he seemed to indicate that he might be thinking of going back, and making China happy with their Karmapa as ruler of the puppet government of Tibet.  The division of the Kagyus, the division of the Gelugpas with the Shugden ban seem designed to help divide people so that they will not notice that the government of Tibet is heading back to communist rule without the free Tibet that the Dalai Lama claimed he wanted.  Everyone turned to look at what each other is doing rather than noticing what the Dalai Lama was doing.  The Dalai Lama has also used his political sway as the Nobel Peace winner to exploit the ignorance of the Western Press, who often know nothing about Buddhism and have mistaken him for a Pope before the rise of Protastantism, rather than noticing that he was this fuedal dictator, who claimed to be in charge of an entire religion but wasn't.  So, dividing two of the biggest lineages has kept people confused about what is going on, the press, has unwittingly helped, as has the government of the U.S., thinking it would somehow keep communism out of the Tibet; unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the Tibetian people lost out; as I have said in other posts, if people are still in Tibet and don't want to leave, that is okay, but I would not return there under communist rule after having left to escape it.

Interestingly the Dalai lama has recently said that he is all in for autonomy and not for independence and has even reacted angrily to claims that he is seeking for independence which you can watch here: http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/features/no-democracy-when-snow-lions-become-lambs/

so I am not too sure what exactly is going on here, but one thing for sure is that even if the Dalai Lama says that he wants autonomy, many people would still assume that he wants independence. I wonder why is it that this is happening as this is the whole core to the issue of why China hates the Dalai Lama and does not like the CTA. If this can be solved, then Tibet will be in a better state.

[Ensapa]

Well, I don't think on this thread we can jump the gun and be so quick to associate this piece of news with the Dorje Shugden ban and the struggle for self-autonomy. I don't think the implications will reach so far. I am thinking that the Dalai Lama has had some recent negotiations and I think on the Chinese side is 'experimenting' with the fulfillment of a bargain. It is because the Chinese is considering fulfilling it, they are even willing to experiment on allow the worship of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. I think the Chinese government has not come to a conclusion about it and so this piece of news is denied.

Another factor is that the Chinese government may be worried that the Tibetans would misinterpret this by thinking that the Chinese are actually acquiescing to Tibetan demands. However, this could not be further from the truth. What the Chinese want would be to neutralize the Dalai Lama. I think he is the main threat that the Chinese are concerned with. Once the Dalai Lama's gone, all tibetan hopes of self-autonomy would evaporate. That's how I see it and I think little can be done for Tibet.

But at the same time, China cannot get rid of the Dalai Lama for various reasons, mainly because there will be a huge worldwide backlash against them if anything happens to the Dalai Lama. The whole world would be able to guess that China is behind it and they wont be too happy about it and I am pretty sure that it is not what China wants or needs at this point of time. The Dalai Lama has said that he only wants autonomy and not independence, and that will not hurt China. What China is unhappy about is that they see the Dalai Lama promoting Tibetan independence instead.

[dsiluvu]

But at the same time, China cannot get rid of the Dalai Lama for various reasons, mainly because there will be a huge worldwide backlash against them if anything happens to the Dalai Lama. The whole world would be able to guess that China is behind it and they wont be too happy about it and I am pretty sure that it is not what China wants or needs at this point of time. The Dalai Lama has said that he only wants autonomy and not independence, and that will not hurt China. What China is unhappy about is that they see the Dalai Lama promoting Tibetan independence instead.

Actually if we observed carefully... The Dalai Lama has in fact never promoted Tibetan Independence but it is the CTA and Tibetans themselves esp TYC who has been shouting about this and promoting it every where. The Dalai Lama never said anything on this matter and has in fact given up on a Free Tibet a long time ago hence the change to Tibet autonomy.

I am thinking that the Dalai Lama has had some recent negotiations and I think on the Chinese side is 'experimenting' with the fulfillment of a bargain. It is because the Chinese is considering fulfilling it, they are even willing to experiment on allow the worship of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. I think the Chinese government has not come to a conclusion about it and so this piece of news is denied. I am thinking that the Dalai Lama has had some recent negotiations and I think on the Chinese side is 'experimenting' with the fulfillment of a bargain. It is because the Chinese is considering fulfilling it, they are even willing to experiment on allow the worship of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. I think the Chinese government has not come to a conclusion about it and so this piece of news is denied.

This speculation by Big Uncle... could be true because I do believe that what Ms. Jin said; “If there can be new thinking and a breakthrough of the deadlock, not only would it further social stability and avoid the creation of hard-to-heal ethnic wounds, it would have a positive influence on other ethnic minorities in the country”. And help improve China’s international image, she added.

I think the new Chinese president will somehow grant HHDL's return to China and this will be the beginning of an closing chapter on Tibet independence!

[Blueupali]

Well, I don't think on this thread we can jump the gun and be so quick to associate this piece of news with the Dorje Shugden ban and the struggle for self-autonomy. I don't think the implications will reach so far. I am thinking that the Dalai Lama has had some recent negotiations and I think on the Chinese side is 'experimenting' with the fulfillment of a bargain. It is because the Chinese is considering fulfilling it, they are even willing to experiment on allow the worship of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. I think the Chinese government has not come to a conclusion about it and so this piece of news is denied.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Hi Big Uncle,
  Okay, I am not sure what bargain the Tibetans would be fulfilling exactly, in this case?  They seem to be willing to go back under communism now, is that what you meant?
  Concerning the earlier post, and concerning the two big splits in Tibetan Buddhism, all I was trying to say I have noticed for years that Buddhism in Tibet was divided along the Karmapa for a lot of people, while others were disenfranchised for chanting Shugden prayers.  I happen to have karma with both groups; there may be other things the Dalai Lama has done that make it hard for people to notice what he is doing politically; the west has trouble noticing what he does politically; we are interesting in trusting nothing that our own politicians say (and wisely, so , I would say) but we trust anything from a politician from Tibet.  It's a strange karma....
  China can also deny they are allowing something while allowing it, to see how it's going yes?
  At any rate, I don't see the Tibetans as getting anything really good out of any of this either; it seemed like  they got sold out a long time ago; their religion was interfered with 2x--- once when the bigotry from the Dorje Shugden ban caused people to completely shun one another, then this was destabilizing to people; then there was the not listening to the head of the Kagyus that occurred because people got angry with him and his followers (they were my first lineage of Buddhism) because, by Shamar Rinpoche's maintaining the right of the Kagyus to choose their own lineage head, some Dalai Lama followers thought that Shamar Rinpoche was acting against the Dalai Lama. 
  My point on all of that was just that people have been so busy trying to deal with their lives while a Shugden ban has made life very complicated for a lot of the population (the ones that got shunned for their prayers for Shugden), life has been complicated also by the split in the Kagyus (though to much less of a degree than the Shugden ban).
  In the case of Dorje Shugden, of course, the Dalai Lama is free to not do that practice if he doesn't want to and to advise his students to do another one. 
  We know that the prayers are to a Buddha and hurt no one; at any rate, people are supposed to be able to do any prayers they like in India.
  So why start shunning people from the community and going so far as to not sell goods to them?  Why force signature campaigns?  These are simply prayers; obviously the Dalai Lama is trying to divide the community. 
 In both cases of division, that of the ban and that of splitting the Kagyus, communication broke down between people; obviously if are busy viewing the other as an object of hatred and keeping the Shugden ones out of our shops, and if we busy acting as though the normal choice to pick the Karmapa is a demon for upholding his tradition, then we might  fail to look objectively at what deals the Dalai Lama is cutting all along with China.
 
 

[Ensapa]

Actually if we observed carefully... The Dalai Lama has in fact never promoted Tibetan Independence but it is the CTA and Tibetans themselves esp TYC who has been shouting about this and promoting it every where. The Dalai Lama never said anything on this matter and has in fact given up on a Free Tibet a long time ago hence the change to Tibet autonomy.

I am thinking that the Dalai Lama has had some recent negotiations and I think on the Chinese side is 'experimenting' with the fulfillment of a bargain. It is because the Chinese is considering fulfilling it, they are even willing to experiment on allow the worship of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. I think the Chinese government has not come to a conclusion about it and so this piece of news is denied. I am thinking that the Dalai Lama has had some recent negotiations and I think on the Chinese side is 'experimenting' with the fulfillment of a bargain. It is because the Chinese is considering fulfilling it, they are even willing to experiment on allow the worship of the Dalai Lama in Tibet. I think the Chinese government has not come to a conclusion about it and so this piece of news is denied.

This speculation by Big Uncle... could be true because I do believe that what Ms. Jin said; “If there can be new thinking and a breakthrough of the deadlock, not only would it further social stability and avoid the creation of hard-to-heal ethnic wounds, it would have a positive influence on other ethnic minorities in the country”. And help improve China’s international image, she added.

I think the new Chinese president will somehow grant HHDL's return to China and this will be the beginning of an closing chapter on Tibet independence!

But in some instances, there are cases where the Dalai Lama's visit has been promoted as him promoting independence by the media. And they are reporting it as that. I cannot find the news headings now, but I do remember reading them before. There is a recent protest in england where the Dalai Lama went to show support (but i am unable to find that article now) and perhaps it is things like these that made China  minsunderstand that the Dalai Lama is actually seeking independence and not autonomy.

[Rinchen]

I think that Dalai Lama has given up on the Free Tibet cause as after so long nothing has happened. Instead now to work together with China to care and govern Tibet.

I still do not think that it is possible that China would have allowed the worshiping of the Dalai Lama in China until this case is solved. This is for a simple reason, with the worshiping of the Dalai Lama in China would mean that the citizens within China think that the government is wrong. At the same time, it would be much easier for Tibetans to conspire on how to get rid of China from their land and get Dalai Lama back. The Tibetans might even go to the extreme just because of that.

Even now, without allowing the worshiping of Dalai Lama in China, many of the Tibetans are already choosing the path of self-immolation to switch the lime light to China, showing that China is in the wrong.

[Ensapa]

I think that Dalai Lama has given up on the Free Tibet cause as after so long nothing has happened. Instead now to work together with China to care and govern Tibet.

I still do not think that it is possible that China would have allowed the worshiping of the Dalai Lama in China until this case is solved. This is for a simple reason, with the worshiping of the Dalai Lama in China would mean that the citizens within China think that the government is wrong. At the same time, it would be much easier for Tibetans to conspire on how to get rid of China from their land and get Dalai Lama back. The Tibetans might even go to the extreme just because of that.

Even now, without allowing the worshiping of Dalai Lama in China, many of the Tibetans are already choosing the path of self-immolation to switch the lime light to China, showing that China is in the wrong.

China should really change their hard-handed policies but i doubt that will happen anytime soon. However, what that can potentially happen is that they will learn over time as Buddhism infiltrates their government more and more of their officials learn about Buddhism and do something about it and the stance start to soften. The hard stance is actually to help keep things in check as it is not easy to govern such a country with soft skills alone. A hard stance is necessary to make an example of people.